In
an emotional speech at the White House, Obama said that he
was taking executive action to expand the number of people
subject to background checks when buying guns.

Additionally, he said he would direct the federal government to
research gun-safety technology and hire more personnel to conduct
more efficient and effective background checks on gun
buyers.

Obama said he was simply taking modest and common-sense steps in
the absence of congressional legislation. But Republican
candidates widely accused him of an illegal power grab shortly
after his speech.

US Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) may have had the most
attention-grabbing reaction. The senator touted a
gun-rights page on his campaign site that featured an image
reminiscent of the propaganda used by military dictatorships.

"Obama wants your guns!" the page declared next to a large photo
of Obama in military gear, standing in front of an ominous
floating head of the president. Cruz previously used the image in
a pitch to supporters,
according to The Washington Post.

"His plan after the attack in San Bernardino: Take away our
guns," Rubio narrated in his ad.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush wrote
an op-ed saying that Obama's executive action would "trample
on the Second Amendment." Bush also had several pointed tweets
blasting Obama's and former US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton's "gun-grabbing agenda."

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina further criticized
Obama's "lawless, unconstitutional" approach to gun policy.
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson said Obama couldn't be trusted
and that his executive action had "everything to do with
advancing his political agenda."

And former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee suggested that Obama
should be more focused on halting abortions:

.@BarackObama You say if we can save one life we should. Well, apply 5th & 14th amendments to the unborn & save 4,000 lives a day. #ProLife

On the Democratic side of the race, Clinton released a statement
embracing Obama's executive action. The Democratic front-runner
said she would look into going even further than Obama on the
issue if she were elected to succeed him.

"I would use executive authority to go as far as would be
possible under the law and I applaud the president for taking a
hard look at that and I believe he will take some actions to
require more gun sellers to do background checks," Clinton said.

Clinton warned that "a Republican president would delight in the
very first day, reversing executive orders that President Obama
has made, including this one that we expect him to make."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) released a similar statement
applauding Obama. Sanders' relatively moderate record on gun
control has been repeatedly criticized by Clinton and former
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, his Democratic primary rivals.

"I support President Obama's executive actions to make our
communities safer," Sanders said. "A vast majority of the
American people, including responsible gun owners who are
sickened by the deaths of so many innocent people, agree with the
common sense reforms announced today."

O'Malley also heralded Obama's executive action and, like
Clinton, pledged to go even further if he becomes president:

I strongly support President Obama's executive actions to limit
gun violence. These executive actions are critical, because every
day we spend debating gun control is a day that we lose lives —
and one American life is worth more than all the gun sales in
America.

As president, I will build on President Obama's progress by
taking further executive actions to reform our gun laws. These
include using the purchasing power of our federal government —
the biggest customer gun companies have — to advance gun safety,
banning "cop killer" ammunition, declaring blanket immunity for
gun dealers and manufacturers unconstitutional, and ceasing to
defend the federal immunity law. I urge my fellow Democratic
candidates for president to put forward similarly bold plans to
improve gun safety and save lives.